50% qualifying marks prescribed in each paper; JKPSC to conduct examination twice annually, 3 regular attempts, 1 mercy chance
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has introduced a major revision in the probation and departmental examination framework for newly recruited Junior Scale officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), replacing the existing two-decade-old rules and making all seven examination papers compulsory.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the General Administration Department (GAD), through Notification S.O. 278, has notified the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Services (Probation and Examination) Rules, 2026, superseding the rules introduced in 2000.
Under the revised framework, probationers will have to qualify all seven papers, each carrying 100 marks, with a minimum of 50 per cent marks required separately in every paper.
The new arrangement removes the earlier provision allowing candidates to choose between optional papers. Under the previous system, probationers were required to clear five compulsory papers and one optional paper selected from two available choices.
Another significant change concerns the qualifying criteria. While the earlier rules left the determination of qualifying marks to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) after evaluation, the revised framework has fixed the minimum passing requirement at 50% in each paper.
As per the notification, directly recruited officers will remain on probation for two years and will be required to appear in the departmental examination towards the completion of their training.
The JKPSC will conduct the examination twice a year, as far as practicable, at such places and times as may be determined by the Commission.
The revised rules also establish a direct link between departmental examination results, annual increments and confirmation of service.
A probationer will be entitled to the first annual increment after completing one year of probation, while the second increment will remain withheld until satisfactory completion of probation and qualification of the prescribed examination.
The rules further provide for withholding of annual increments where a probationer fails to perform assigned duties satisfactorily, does not adequately utilise the training opportunities or fails to clear the examination.
Successful qualification of the departmental examination has also been prescribed as a condition for confirmation in service. However, the Government retains the power to grant exemption in exceptional cases, provided good and sufficient reasons are recorded in writing.
On the number of opportunities, the revised framework retains three regular chances and one mercy chance for qualifying the examination. The Government may also allow probationers to avail of opportunities missed due to circumstances beyond their control.
Applications for the examination will have to be submitted through the concerned Administrative Department, while the JKPSC will separately notify the examination procedure.
The new rules also permit candidates to consult Bare Acts, Rules, Regulations and Manuals during the written examination. However, such reference material must contain only relevant legal provisions and cannot include annotations.
The prescribed syllabus comprises seven papers covering administration, governance, Jammu and Kashmir’s socio-economic profile, service regulations, revenue laws, development policies, social welfare and the legal framework governing the Union Territory.
Paper-I covers, Management and Public Administration, including organisational behaviour, human resource management, leadership, communication, emerging technologies and administrative accountability.
Paper-II focuses on Jammu and Kashmir’s geographical, demographic, economic and social profile, including agriculture, horticulture, tourism, culture, languages, ecology, environment and infrastructure.
Paper-III deals with Service Rules and Office Procedure, covering civil service regulations, conduct and leave rules, public service delivery, grievance redressal, e-Office, e-HRMS, financial procedures, artificial intelligence, cyber security and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Paper-IV covers Revenue Laws and Land Administration, including property and registration laws, land revenue, agrarian reforms, migrant immovable property, land acquisition and modernisation of revenue records.
Paper-V focuses on Government Schemes and Policies for Development, Employment and Industrial Growth, while Paper-VI covers Social Welfare, Human Rights and Community Protection Laws and Schemes, including reservation, women’s rights, child protection, social security, health and forest rights.
Paper-VII deals with the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Governance and Public Order in Jammu and Kashmir, including constitutional provisions, the J&K Reorganisation Act, criminal laws, taxation, public safety and statutory authorities.
The notification further provides exemption to probationers covered under the new rules from passing other departmental examinations prescribed for their respective feeder services.
The rules have been issued under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India and have come into force with immediate effect.
